Buffalo Breweries and Best Places Needed!

My number one recommendation to anyone going to Buffalo is always Gabriel's Gate. I will go to my grave arguing those as the best wings in the United States of America. And it's a real divey spot so it'll scratch that itch for you. AND, from there, it's less than a mile walk to Thin Man Brewing, which is probably the best brewery in Buffalo.

I have a lot of love for Big Ditch, Resurgence and Community Beer Works, too -- and they're all in a three-mile radius so you can and should visit them all -- but Thin Man wins the day for me.

If you're at all a whiskey guy, Lucky Day is like two blocks from Big Ditch.

ALSO, and this is important -- if you're coming to Buffalo you need to be getting a beef on weck. My go-to for that is Schwabl's, which is 10-15 minutes outside of downtown but more than worth it. You cannot get the BoW outside of Western NY (save a handful of exceptions in Rochester, Cuse or Albany) so if you wanna get the real feel of a new place that's a way to do it.

 

I assume your going to the Shelton Bros. Festival. Check your inbox, I sent you some recs.

 

My wife and I will be there at the same time for the Festival. You should do yourself a favor and find a Ted's Hot Dogs for a good dog and Loganberry (local drink) and try to get a Beef on Weck sandwich, my personal favorite was Charlie the Butcher when I was back in college.

 

Downtown/elmwood area: big ditch, community, resurgence, old first ward, thinman, flying bison and beltline are all excellent.

For divey beer bars with great wings, you can’t go wrong with mr goodbar on elmwood.

Outside the city a great side trip is to east Aurora. There you can hit aurora brew works, a beer shop and beer bar with mostly local beers and you can bring your food in from bar bill tavern next door, which is consistently voted best wings and beef on Weck in buffalo. Down the road 42 north brewing does some great stuff too.

Dive bars with great wings: Elmo’s, 911 tavern and Kelly’s Korner (also great beef on Weck, and cheap!)

For buffalo pizza I highly recommend bocces or lanovas near downtown with sesame crust and some char grilled wings.

Gabrielle’s gate above is also a solid recommendation. For classic buffalo beef on Weck schwables in west Seneca is also legendary

Have fun and pm me for more details

 

Best wings are at Bar Bill’s in East aurora about 20 min from downtown. Best Pizza is at Jay’s artisan pizza. Thin man and Big Ditch are solid breweries. Best restaurants are probably dapper goose for new American, Grange Community Kitchen, toutant, dobutsu, marble and Rye and Las Puertas for amazing Mexican. Lloyd taco is ok. Gabriel’s Gate has great wings and is a bit divey. Cocktails at Ballyhoo, billy club, and Buffalo Proper. Coffee at tipico and public espresso.

 

Here is a list I did awhile back. It's a little outdated but I am working on a new one. All the suggestions above are great. Make sure you come give us a visit at Pressure Drop Brewing.

 

Oh also for wine go check out Liten Buffel winery, a natural winery north of Buffalo. Little club is a solid wine bar and Bacchus is a great restaurant with solid wine list.

 

1. The Best Breweries:
Big Ditch
Froth
Beltline
Thin Man
Mortalis (75mins from Buffalo and worth the drive!)
Resurgence

2. The Best Restaurants/Bars (Beer related)
Griffon Gastropub
Allen Burger Venture
Gene McCarthys Old First Ward
Moor Pat (not a ton of food options but great vibe and 20 beers on tap)
Colter Bay
Coles

3. The Best Restaurants in town (NOT beer related):
Indian: Taj Grill
Burgers: Allen Burger Venture, Forty Thieves
My fav restaurant: Roost (menu is always changing, usually themed) Also is the Best brunch in Buffalo in my opinion.
Marble & Rye
Tacos: La Divina

4. (I would like to know the "highest end" places in town:
Curtis Hotel has a nice rooftop bar
Russell's Steakhouse
Buffalo Chophouse
Oliver's
Hutch's
Tempo
Ristorante Lombardo
Sinatras
Buffalo Proper

5. I would like to know the great "dives" that I should try:
The Pink (gotta get the steak sandwich)
Gypsy Parlor
Mr Goodbar
Swan St Diner
Sophia's
Brickbar


6. I would like to know any "unique" eating places I should try:
Beef on Weck @ Schwabel's or Charlie the Butcher
Wings: Bar Bill Tavern, Nine Eleven Tavern, Elmos (do not be suckered into Duff's/Anchor Bar/Gabriel's Gate they are not the best, not by a long shot)
Burgers/Dogs: Ted's...a Buffalo staple

If I think of more I'll add another post..

 

LOL @ grouping Gabriel's Gate in with Duffs and Anchor Bar.

If you prefer Bar Bill, Nine-Eleven or Elmo's I get it. That's preference. But acting like going to GG is being "suckered into" some tourist trap like Anchor Bar is actual goddamn lunacy and I am not here for it.

 

GG wings are garbage....over rated AF....

 

Good list overall, but I'm gonna be honest, I love the wings at Gabriel's Gate, and I know I'm not the only one... Bar Bill obviously bangs as well, but I think its safe to say GG should be on the list and people can decide for themselves after trying (especially since they are so close to a few other options also included in the list).

Bacchus should be on the "highest end places" list too, one of the best restaurants in the city imo.

 

I know a lot of people love GG....it's all a matter of opinion....I just know from living in Buffalo my entire life and eating wings practically everywhere, that for my liking they never lived up to the hype....wish they did, bc apparently they are popular.